Diogo José Teixeira da Silva[a] (4 December 1996 – 3 July 2025), commonly known asDiogo Jota,[b] was a Portuguese professionalfootballer who played as aforward andwinger. He was known for his finishing, pace, dribbling ability, and work rate.[5][6]
Having been rejected by larger clubs due to his small frame, Jota signed forPaços de Ferreira's youth setup in 2013.[10] He was promoted to the main squad at the start of the2014–15 season, and made his senior debut on 19 October 2014 by starting in a4–0 home win againstAtlético de Reguengos for theTaça de Portugal.[11] During the season, he had a one-month absence from training after he was diagnosed with a heart condition.[10]
Jota first appeared in thePrimeira Liga on 20 February 2015, coming on as a latesubstitute forDiogo Rosado in a 2–2 home draw againstVitória de Guimarães.[12] He scored his first goals in the competition on 17 May, netting a brace in a 3–2 home success overAcadémica de Coimbra[13] and becoming the youngest player ever to score for the club in the top tier in the process.[14]
On 30 May 2015, Jota signed a new five-year deal with Paços, keeping him tied up until 2020.[15] In the first game ofthe campaign, a 1–0 win over Académica at theEstádio da Mata Real on 17 August, he wassent off at the end for pushingHugo Seco;Ricardo Nascimento was also sent off for retaliating on his teammate's behalf.[16] During the season, managerJorge Simão said that Jota would be the successor toCristiano Ronaldo, a comparison that stunned the young player.[10]
Uniquely for a first-team player, Jota lived in a club dormitory while at Paços de Ferreira. This living arrangement was to avoid distractions while learning foreign languages, in preparation for a possible move abroad.[10]
On 14 March 2016, Jota agreed to a five-year contract withAtlético Madrid effective as of 1 July.[17] On 26 August, however, he was quickly loaned out back to Portugal to play forPorto.[18] On 1 October, Jota scored a first-halfhat-trick in a 4–0 away victory againstNacional.[19] He also took part in the2016–17 UEFA Champions League, scoring his first goal in the competition on 7 December in a 5–0 home victory againstLeicester City.[20]
On 25 July 2017, Jota signed forEFL Championship clubWolverhampton Wanderers on aseason-long loan.[21] He scored his first goal on 15 August, in a 3–2 away win overHull City.[22] On 30 January 2018, it was announced that a permanent deal with Jota had been agreed for a reported €14 million, being made effective on 1 July.[23][24] He scored a career-best 17 league goals in his first year, ranking fifth in the league top scorer charts, as Wolves achieved promotion to thePremier League as champions;[25] due toEnglish Football League regulations, he wore his legal surname on hisjersey in the Championship but was able to change it to "Diogo J" after the feat.[26]
Jota made his debut in the Premier League on 11 August 2018, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–2 home draw againstEverton.[27] He scored his first goal in the competition on 5 December, helping the hosts come from behind to beatChelsea 2–1.[28] His second came four days later, in a win atNewcastle United by the same scoreline.[29] On 19 January 2019, Jota scored three times in the 4–3 home victory over Leicester City – his second career hat-trick.[30] In the process, he became only the second Portuguese player to achieve the feat in the Premier League afterCristiano Ronaldo 11 years earlier.[31] This was a first-ever for the club in the competition and a first for the club in thetop flight of English football sinceJohn Richards, against the same opposition, in theFootball League First Division inOctober 1977.[32] On 16 March 2019, Jota scored the winning goal in a 2–1 win againstManchester United in the2018–19 FA Cup, to help Wolves reach their first semi-final in the competition since 1997–98.[33]
On 25 July 2019, Jota scored in a 2–0 win over Northern Irish clubCrusaders in the Europa League second qualifying round, Wolves' first European goal since October 1980,[34] and in the next round on 15 August, he scored an overhead kick to conclude a 4–0 (8–0 aggregate) victory overPyunik.[35]
In the finalEuropa League group stage game at home toBeşiktaş on 12 December 2019, Jota replaced compatriotRúben Neves as a 56th-minute substitute with the game goalless, scored after 72 seconds and completed a hat-trick within twelve minutes as Wolves ran out 4–0 victors.[36] The following 20 February, he netted another treble in a win by the same score overEspanyol in the first leg of the last 32 of the tournament.[37] His 131st and last appearance for Wolves was as a second-half substitute in their Europa League quarter-final againstSevilla on 11 August 2020;[38] his 44th and final goal for the club in a 3–0 league victory over Everton on 12 July.[39]
On 19 September 2020, Jota joinedLiverpool on a long-term deal,[40] reportedly for a £41 million transfer fee, rising to £45 million with potential add-ons.[41][42] The club had become intrigued by Jota during his time at Porto, with an official report prepared on the player's display throughout the2018–19 season, though the decision was made to continue monitoring at the time due to the recent nature of the player's permanent move to Wolves. ManagerJürgen Klopp made the final decision to sign Jota when, in early 2020, he was given an account of Jota's traits and abilities over the course of 15 games, and ultimately selected him from a list including three other attackers to join the club.[43]
He made his debut in theEFL Cup five days later, coming on as a second-half substitute againstLincoln City in a 7–2 win.[44] On 28 September, he scored on his Premier League debut for the club, with the third in a 3–1 win againstArsenal atAnfield.[45] Jota scored the club's 10,000th goal in their history when he netted the opener againstMidtjylland in theUEFA Champions League group stage,[46] and scored a hat-trick on 3 November in a 5–0 win atAtalanta in the same competition.[47] In doing so, he became the first player sinceRobbie Fowler in 1993 to score 7 goals in his first 10 Liverpool appearances.[48] On 22 November, Jota scored the second goal in a 3–0 victory against Leicester City, becoming the first Liverpool player to score in each of his first four home matches in the Premier League.[49] For his performances in October, Jota was awarded Liverpool Player of the Month by the club's supporters.[50] On 9 December, Jota suffered a leg injury during aUEFA Champions League match against Midtjylland, in a dead rubber match, sidelining him for three months.[51]
Jota ended his debut season at the club with nine league goals, including a back heel in a 4–2 away win against Manchester United,[52] which helped Liverpool finish third in the Premier League and qualify for the Champions League.[53]
On 14 August 2021, Jota scored Liverpool's first goal of the2021–22 Premier League season in a 3–0 away victory against newly promotedNorwich City.[54] On 24 October, he scored in a 5–0 away victory against Liverpool'sarch rivals Manchester United atOld Trafford.[55] On 3 November, he opened the scoring in a 2–0 home victory in theChampions League against his former club Atlético Madrid to ensure Liverpool's qualification to theround of 16, as group winners.[56] On 1 December, he scored Liverpool's fourth goal in a 4–1 away win against local rivals Everton in theMerseyside derby, as the club became the first team in English top-flight history to score at least two goals in eighteen successive games in all competitions.[57] For his performances in November, he was awardedPFA Fans' Player of the Month.[58] On 16 December, Jota scored Liverpool's first goal in a 3–1 home win against Newcastle United, in what was Liverpool's2,000th top-flight win.[59]
Jota at the EFL and FA Cup trophies parade on the streets of Liverpool on 29 May 2022, the day after the end of the 2021–22 season
InEFL Cup semi-finals, Jota scored both goals in a 2–0 away win over Arsenal to send Liverpool into thefinal.[60] On 27 February, following a goalless draw against Chelsea after extra time, he scored his penalty during theshoot-out to help Liverpool win their first League Cup since 2012.[61][62] On 14 May, in the2022 FA Cup final, Jota came on as a substitute for the injuredMohamed Salah after 33 minutes.[63] Liverpool won the final after a penalty shoot-out, in which Jota scored his penalty.[64] On 28 May, Jota made a substitute appearance in the 65th minute of the2022 UEFA Champions League Final, as Liverpool lost to 1–0Real Madrid.[65]
2022–23: Contract extension and recurring injuries
Jota suffered a hamstring injury in the pre-season which made him miss the start of the season.[66] On 2 August 2022, Jota signed a new long-term deal with the club.[67] He made his return from injury on 3 September, replacingDarwin Núñez in the 80th minute of a 0–0 draw against rivalsEverton in the Merseyside derby.[68] On 12 October, Jota came off the bench in a Champions League match away toRangers, before providing three assists in one match for the first time in his career toMohamed Salah, who completed a hat-trick in the space of six minutes and twelve seconds of an eventual 7–1 win.[69] On 16 October, he suffered a calf injury during Liverpool's 1–0 home win overManchester City, which ruled him out for the2022 FIFA World Cup.[70] He returned from injury on 13 February, replacingDarwin Núñez in the 70th minute in a 2–0 victory against Everton.[71]
Having not registered a goal since 10 April 2022, Jota returned to scoring ways on 17 April 2023, with two goals in Liverpool's 6–1 away win overLeeds United.[72] On 30 April, with Liverpool conceding a last minute equaliser, having led the match by three goals, Jota scored the dramatic late winner in added time in Liverpool's 4–3 home win overTottenham Hotspur, leading him to be nominated for thePremier League Player of the Month award.[73] After the season, Liverpool narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification.[74]
Following an injury-riddled season, Jota started the new season on 19 August, by closing Liverpool's 3–1 win againstBournemouth.[75][76] On 30 September, Jota was sent off just 24 minutes after coming on against Tottenham, leaving his team with 9 men. He would receive criticism from pundits;Stephen Warnock claimed that he had "been poor since coming on at half time, not up to the pace of the game at all", whileGary Neville agreed with the red card, as he believed Jota's actions were a "stupidity".[77] On 5 October, he scored his first goal in the2023–24 UEFA Europa League, closing the 2–0 win againstUnion Saint-Gilloise in a group stage match.[78]
In January 2024, withMohamed Salah unavailable due to playing in the2023 Africa Cup of Nations and his subsequent injury, Jota stepped up in his absence, forming a successful partnership with Darwin Núñez that saw him score five goals and assist another two in Liverpool's wins overBurnley, Newcastle United, Bournemouth and Chelsea, earning him thePremier League Player of the Month award for January.[79][80][81] On 17 February, he suffered a knee injury during Liverpool's 4–1 away win overBrentford, sidelining him for two months.[82] He made his return from injury in a 3–0 home loss to Atalanta in the first leg of theEuropa League on 11 April.[83] Shortly after, Jota suffered another injury setback againstFulham on 21 April, leading him to miss Liverpool's remaining matches of the 2023–24 season.[84]
On 17 August, Jota scored Liverpool's first goal under new head coachArne Slot in a 2–0 away win againstIpswich Town.[85] Over the following matches, Jota started as the club'snumber 9, due to fitting better into Slot's system tactically, as he could drop deep and act similar to afalse nine, leading him to compete with Darwin Núñez for a starting spot.[86] On 5 October, Jota made his 100th start for the club, scoring the only goal of an away win overCrystal Palace.[87] On 2 April 2025, Jota scored the winner, and his last ever goal, against Everton in the Merseyside derby at Anfield to maintain the club's 12-point lead at the top of the table.[88][89] On 27 April, Liverpool won the2024–25 Premier League, earning Jota's fourth and final trophy with the club.[90]
In March 2019, Jota was called up to the senior side for the first time, ahead of the openingUEFA Euro 2020 qualifying matches againstUkraine andSerbia.[95] Still uncapped, he was part of the squad that won the2019 UEFA Nations League Finals on home soil in June but did not make an appearance.[96] On 14 November, he made his debut by coming on as an 84th-minute substitute forCristiano Ronaldo in a 6–0 win againstLithuania in a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier.[97] He scored his first international goal on 5 September 2020 in a 4–1 home win overCroatia in theUEFA Nations League.[98]
Jota was named in Portugal's final squad for the delayedUEFA Euro 2020 tournament, scoring in a 4–2 group stage defeat toGermany.[99] He played all games in a round of 16-exit defeat toBelgium.[100] On 18 October 2022, Jota was ruled out of the2022 FIFA World Cup due to a calf injury he sustained during a league match with Liverpool against Manchester City on 16 October 2022.[70]
On 11 September 2023, Jota scored a brace in Portugal's 9–0 home victory overLuxembourg in theUEFA Euro 2024qualifiers, their biggest win in international history.[101] On 21 May 2024, he was named in Portugal's squad forfinal tournament in Germany,[102] where he made three appearances againstCzech Republic[103] andGeorgia in the group phase[104] andSlovenia (3–0 victory in apenalty shootout) in the knockout stage,[105] before Portugal was eliminated from the tournament byFrance in the quarter-finals after losing 5–3 in another penalty shootout.[106]
Jota was a versatile forward, capable of playing in several attacking positions; he was deployed as acentre forward, as an out-and-outstriker, as awinger, as afalse 9, or as aninside forward. Though ostensibly right-footed, he was very strong with both feet.[109] Jota was also known for his clinical finishing, explosive pace, dribbling ability, positional sense, movement and close control which made him especially effective on the counter-attack. Moreover, he was also known for his defensive contribution and high work rate on the pitch.[110]
Jota, whose actual surname was Silva, chose to use the name "Jota" to distinguish himself from other players named Diogo and Silva in the youth academy. "Jota" is the Portuguese name of the letter "J", making this equivalent to calling himself "Diogo J".[111]
Jota's brother,André Silva, was also a professional footballer. Like his brother, André started playing football at Gondomar and played for Paços de Ferreira at youth level.[112] When Jota joined Porto on loan in 2016, André was in the club's youth ranks.[112] André was playing forLiga Portugal 2 sidePenafiel at the time of their deaths.[113]
Jota was an avid gamer and was ranked world No. 1 inFIFA 21's Champions Leaderboard in February 2021.[114] He had his owneSports team known as Luna Galaxy (formerly "Diogo Jota eSports") and regularly streamed onTwitch.[115] During theCOVID-19 pandemic lockdown he took part in an invitational series of FIFA matches, run by the Premier League, eventually defeating future Liverpool teammateTrent Alexander-Arnold in the final of the competition.[116]
Jota married Rute Cardoso on 22 June 2025, 11 days before his death. The couple had three children.[117][118][119]
On 3 July 2025, Jota and his brother,André Silva, died in a car crash in theprovince of Zamora in Spain, while returning toLiverpool for pre-season training. Jota had recently undergone minor lung surgery inPorto, Portugal, before getting married. On medical advice not to fly, Jota planned to return to England via a ferry leaving fromSantander, Spain. He and his brother were driving to Santander to catch the ferry when, according to theSpanish Civil Guard, theirLamborghini Huracán suffered atyre blowout while overtaking another vehicle on theA-52 motorway, causing the car to veer off the road near kilometre point 64 in the municipality ofCernadilla and catch fire. The crash occurred between 00:30 and 00:40CEST. Emergency services later confirmed that both men died at the scene. They were 28 and 25, respectively.[123][124][125] In a statement, the Spanish Civil Guard said that "all the evidence so far indicates" Jota was driving the vehicle at the time of the crash, and that the car "significantly exceeded the speed limit for the highway". The expert report is still being finalised and will be submitted to the court inPuebla de Sanabria.[126]
A wake for the brothers was held on 4 July 2025 inGondomar, Portugal, where hundreds of relatives, friends and public figures, including Prime MinisterLuís Montenegro and PresidentMarcelo Rebelo de Sousa, gathered to pay their respects.[127] The funeral took place the following morning at the nearbyIgreja Paroquial de Gondomar, with BishopManuel Linda of Porto presiding over the mass. Liverpool teammatesVirgil van Dijk andAndy Robertson carried floral tributes dedicated to Jota and Silva, respectively, while Portugal teammateRúben Neves served as a pallbearer for Jota's casket. Following the service, the brothers were buried side by side in the cemetery adjacent to the church.[128][129][130]
Jota's sudden death received international media coverage,[131][132] as well as messages from figures in the footballing world.Arne Slot, head coach of Liverpool at the time of Jota's death, released a statement through the club saying, "For us as a club, the sense of shock is absolute. Diogo was not just our player. He was a loved one to all of us. He was a teammate, a colleague, a workmate and in all of those roles he was very special."[133]Fenway Sports Group CEO of footballMichael Edwards and Liverpoolsporting directorRichard Hughes also released a joint statement through the club stating, "Of course, we – his Liverpool family – are also struggling to come to terms with what has happened. ... This is a tragedy that transcends Liverpool Football Club."[134]
On 11 July 2025, Liverpool announced that Jota's number 20 jersey would be retired at all levels at the club.[135] Later that day, Jota's widow visited the memorial site at Anfield with members of the brothers' family. They were joined by Liverpool players and staff to view the tributes that had been left and to pay their respects.[136][137] A substantial number of past and present Liverpool players posted tribute messages to Jota on social media. Ex-club captainJordan Henderson visited theAnfield memorial site in person.[138] Liverpool also opened books of condolence at Anfield and digitally for Diogo and André.[139] The club also confirmed they would pay out the remaining salary of his current contract in instalments, in full, to Jota's family.[140] His previous teamWolverhampton Wanderers, and director of football operations and administration Matt Wild, said: "We are all completely shocked. It's such devastating news, not only for the passing of Diogo, which is just tragic enough, but to lose his brother as well."[141] On the Liverpool website, Jota remains listed as a member of the team under a banner reading "Forever".[142]
Jürgen Klopp, who signed Jota for Liverpool in 2020, said, "Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father! We will miss you so much!"Cristiano Ronaldo, his Portugal teammate and captain, stated, "It just doesn't make any sense. Just now we were together in the national team, just now you were married."[143]Rúben Neves,Francisco Conceição and several other Portugal teammates posted tributes to Jota.[144][145][146] Former Liverpool player and managerKenny Dalglish said: "Football is not important at this sad time. You feel helpless, knowing there's so little we can do to ease the pain for his wife of just two weeks, his three beautiful children."[147]
Portuguese presidentMarcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed shock, highlighting Jota's youth, promising career, and recent family happiness, remarking that "he had his whole future ahead of him".[151] Prime MinisterLuís Montenegro described the deaths as "unexpected and tragic", noting that Jota greatly honoured Portugal.[152]Prince William, patron ofthe Football Association, also paid tribute, stating: "As part of the footballing family, I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Diogo Jota and his brother. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who knew him."[153]
On 13 July 2025, Liverpool paid tribute to Jota and his brother Silva during apre-season friendly match againstPreston North End atDeepdale. Before kick-off, players and supporters observed a minute's silence, with both teams wearing black armbands. Preston captainBen Whiteman laid a wreath in front of the Liverpool fans, who displayed banners reading "Forever our number 20." A rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone" was performed, and digital tributes were shown around the stadium.[158] On 6 September 2025, a moment of silence was held for Jota during Portugal's World Cup qualifying match againstArmenia.[159]
During the2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris on 22 September, a tribute was paid to Jota and his brother Silva, featuring a moment of silence and avideo montage in their honour.[160]
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^"Jota terá mais oportunidades" [Jota will have more opportunities].Record (in Portuguese). 13 January 2015. Archived fromthe original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved31 October 2015.
^"Jota seguro até 2020" [Jota secured until 2020].Record (in Portuguese). 30 May 2015. Archived fromthe original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved31 October 2015.
^"El Atlético ficha a Diogo Jota" [Atlético sign Diogo Jota].Marca (in Spanish). Spain. 14 March 2016.Archived from the original on 29 November 2019. Retrieved15 March 2016.
^"Sub-21: Israel-Portugal, 0–3 (crónica)" [Under-21: Israel-Portugal, 0–3 (match report)].Maisfutebol (in Portuguese). 17 November 2015.Archived from the original on 5 December 2022. Retrieved7 June 2018.
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